The Federal Court of Australia has ordered Bit Trade, the operating company behind Australian crypto exchange Kraken, to pay a fine of AUD 8 million (approximately $5.1 million) for failing to comply with regulatory requirements. Kraken's Australian Operator Fined $5 Million for Regulatory Violations The decision comes after a lawsuit filed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which accused Bit Trade of offering a margin trading product without proper authorization. Between October 2021 and August 2023, Bit Trade allegedly failed to identify a target market before rolling out its margin extension product to over 1,100 clients. This oversight reportedly led to client losses exceeding $5.2 million. ASIC argued that Bit Trade’s actions breached Australian financial laws and initially sought a penalty of AUD 20 million. Bit Trade argued that any fine should not exceed AUD 4 million, but the court ultimately ruled for a penalty of AUD 8 million. Kraken expressed disappointment with the outcome, highlighting the challenges posed by unclear regulatory frameworks for crypto businesses in Australia. “We appreciate the court’s compliance efforts, but believe this case underscores the urgent need for specific crypto legislation to eliminate confusion and uncertainty for investors and businesses,” a Kraken spokesperson said. ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court stressed the regulator’s commitment to holding crypto firms accountable, saying the decision demonstrated the importance of ensuring compliance to protect investors. The court ordered Bit Trade to pay the fine within 60 days and cover ASIC’s legal costs. Kraken said the decision reflected regulatory uncertainty in Australia and reiterated its call for more definitive crypto legislation. *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: Bitcoin Exchange Kraken Penalty Shock! $5 Million Fine in This Country! Here's Why
